Villa Marina Capri

Not so very long ago the glamorous life on Capri was all about seizing the high ground, whether on the hilltop of Capri village or in the equally lofty Anacapri. But there’s new life down by the marina. Partway up the hill, looking out over the ferry port across the Bay of Naples, is the Villa Marina Capri, a classic 19th-century villa that’s been thoroughly renovated, converted into an intimate little 21-room contemporary-luxury boutique hotel.

The villa spreads out over several distinct levels, cascading down the terraced hillside. This is a town where you can work up a serious sweat just walking up the road — you’ll see some pretty fit people riding the funicular. The Villa Marina’s interiors are a bit on the conservative side, emphasizing calm, grown-up luxury over immediate visual pleasures. Then again with a view across the bay towards Naples, with Mount Vesuvius in the background, there’s no need to try to compete.

What you get plenty of is privacy, and in contrast with the crowds disembarking at the ferry terminal below, it can’t help but feel exclusive. With a pool, a small spa, and a fine little restaurant it offers a self-contained existence, if you want it — and after dark, when the last ferry leaves, the town (and the island) is yours.

Please note: Villa Marina Capri requires a two-night minimum over weekends and is open seasonally, April 18th through October 20th.

How to get there: Capri is approximately 50–80 minutes by ferry from Naples. Villa Marina Capri is located just above the main port, Marina Grande, and offers complimentary transfers for guests.